Donald P. Bellisario - IMDb IMDb Writer | Producer | Director Donald P. Bellisario was born in North Charleroi in Pennsylvania. His father ran the tavern, where he grew up listening to the war stories of vets returning from WWII. He had a fifteen-year career in advertising before moving to Hollywood. He broke into television as the story editor for Black Sheep Squadron (1976). His most celebrated works to ... See full bio » Born: Donald Bellisario (Producer) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Donald Bellisario Male Born Aug 8, 1935 Donald Paul Bellisario is an American television producer and screenwriter who created and sometimes wrote episodes for the TV series Magnum, P.I. , Airwolf, Quantum Leap, JAG, and NCIS. He has often included military veterans as characters. related links Veterans In Hollywood Time For A Gut Check Huffington Post - Nov 11, 2015 'Veteran\'s Day is a good time to ask how it can be that while so many TV shows and movies find inspiration in the sacrifice of our servicemen and women -- and yet find so little opportunity to hire Veterans to tell these stories?

Between The Last Ship and three shows in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) franchise- plus movies like American Sniper and Captain Phillips -- most Americans could be forgiven for assuming that any professional writers, producers and directors who ... The Hollywood Reporter's Best Of The Week Seattle Pi - Nov 21, 2012 '\n The Hollywood Reporter\'s best of the week \n\n\n Los Angeles is a spinoff, <mark>Donald Bellisario</mark>\'s lawyers slam the network for seeking medical records to harass and embarrass him.\n\nLAWRENCE KASDAN, SIMON KIMBERG LOCK DEALS TO WRITE AND PRODUCE \'STAR WARS\' INSTALLMENTS\n\nThe pair will write either \"Episode VIII\" or \"Episode IX\" â their exact division of responsibilities is yet to be determined â and also will come aboard to produce the films.\n\nTHR\'S...

La Daybook Wsls Google News - Sep 05, 2011 '8:30 am NCIS LAWSUIT A case management conference is scheduled in &quot;NCIS&quot; creator <mark>Donald Bellisario</mark>&#39;s lawsuit against CBS Studios Inc. He alleges the studio breached a contract allowing him to take part in the development of the series spinoff &quot;NCIS:' Producer's Lawsuit Seeks Compensation For Ncis Spinoff New York Law Journal Google News - Aug 25, 2011 '<mark>Donald Bellisario</mark> was creator and executive producer of JAG, NCIS, and other television series including Magnum PI, Airwolf, and Quantum Leap. A recent lawsuit 1 in Los Angeles brought against CBS by him and his personal services company illustrates' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Donald Bellisario. CHILDHOOD 1935 Birth Born on August 8, 1935.

TEENAGE 1953 17 Years Old Notably, the last episode of Quantum Leap takes place on August 8, 1953, Sam Beckett's birthday, and the reverse of the last two digits of Bellisario's own birth year. … Read More Another common theme in Bellisario's work is religious undertones and comparisons. Read Less 1955 19 Years Old Bellisario was born in Charleroi or Cokeburg, Pennsylvania (sources differ) to an Italian father Albert and a Serbian mother Dana (nÃ©e LapÄeviÄ) Bellisario who was born in Gamberale, Abruzzo, Italy. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1959, attaining the rank of Sergeant and earning the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. TWENTIES 1961 25 Years Old Bellisario earned a bachelors degree in journalism at Pennsylvania State University in 1961.

1965 29 Years Old Bellisario became an advertising copywriter in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1965, and three years later became creative director of the Bloom Agency in Dallas, Texas. … Read More After rising to senior vice president after eight years, he then moved to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting and production.<br /><br /> After working under such television producers as Glen A. Larson, Bellisario adopted some of their production techniques, most notably utilizing a small pool of actors which he uses for his many productions.<br /><br /> He has created several successful TV series, including Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, Quantum Leap, JAG, and NCIS. Less-known creations include Tales of the Gold Monkey, Tequila & Bonetti, and First Monday. He was also a writer and producer on Black Sheep Squadron and the original Battlestar Galactica. Read Less FIFTIES Show Less He wrote and directed the 1988 feature film Last Rites. … Read More One common theme running through the majority of Bellisario's work is the tendency for the protagonist to be a current or former member of the United States armed forces.

Examples are Tom Selleck's character in Magnum, P.I., Thomas Magnum, who is a United States Naval Academy graduate, former SEAL officer and Vietnam veteran; Jan-Michael Vincent's character Stringfellow Hawke a top helicopter combat pilot in Airwolf, also a Vietnam veteran and is still looking for his brother who is missing in action; Commander Harmon âHarmâ Rabb, Jr., the main character of JAG, who is also a Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Aviator looking for his father who is missing in action from the Vietnam War; and NCIS's main character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who is a retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and Scout Sniper. Although the character Dr. Sam Beckett was not in the armed forces, the other main character in Quantum Leap, former Naval Aviator, Vietnam prisoner of war and retired Rear Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci, was. Another connection that some of his main characters have is August 8 birthdays. Read Less In an interview with Sci-Fi Channel in the late 1990s, Bellisario said he was inspired to create Quantum Leap in 1988 after reading a novel about time travel.

… Read More His service alongside John F. Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was the basis for Quantum Leap's fifth season's double-length episode "Lee Harvey Oswald" (originally aired September 22, 1992). The episode supports the theory that Oswald carried out the assassination on his own, something Bellisario believes.<br /><br /> He heads the Los Angeles-based production company Belisarius Productions. The company's name recalls the Roman general Belisarius, of whose name Bellisario's own family name is an Italian-language variant.<br /><br /> Bellisario was married to actress and producer Deborah Pratt, who starred in several of his shows. As of year he resides in Studio City, California with his fourth wife, Vivienne.<br /><br /> Bellisario has seven children. From his first marriage to Margaret (m. 1956â1975), he has four children, including daughters Joy Bellisario-Jenkins (born c. 1956) and Leslie Bellisario-Ingham (born c.

1961), son David Bellisario who is a producer on NCIS: Los Angeles, and daughter Julie Bellisario Watson who is a producer on NCIS. From his second marriage, to Lynn Halpern (1979â1984), he has a son, Michael Bellisario (born April 7, 1980), who had a recurring role as Midshipman Michael Roberts on JAG and played Charles 'Chip' Sterling on NCIS. From his third marriage, to Deborah Pratt (1984â1991), he has a son Nicholas Dante Bellisario and a daughter Troian Bellisario (born October 28, 1985), who guest starred on Quantum Leap and plays Timothy McGee's sister Sarah McGee on NCIS. Read Less LATE ADULTHOOD 2001 65 Years Old In 2001 he was named a Distinguished Alumnusâthe highest honor bestowed on a graduate of Penn State.

2004 68 Years Old Bellisario received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004, which was shown in the Season 9 JAG episode "Trojan Horse". 2006 70 Years Old In 2006, Bellisario endowed a $1 million Trustee Matching Scholarship in the Penn State College of Communications. … Read More TV: JAG and NCIS (washingtonpost.com) TV Creator and Executive Producer Tuesday, October 5, 2004; 12:30 PM This is the new season of two popular military dramas, both Bellisario productions, airing on CBS. "JAG" (Judge Advocate General) is an adventure drama series about a group of officers trained as lawyers who investigate, prosecute and defend those accused of crimes in the military, including murder, treason and terrorism. "NCIS" (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is an action drama, about a team of special agents whose mission is to investigate any crime that has a shred of evidence connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. Acclaimed writer, producer and director Donald P. Bellisario was online Tuesday, Oct.

5, at 12:30 p.m. ET to answer your questions about his television series. Bellisario is best known for his creations "Magnum, P.I." and "Quantum Leap." Among other honors, Bellisario's work on the series won him an Edgar Allen Poe writing award. "Quantum Leap," the 1989-1993 science fiction drama garnered four Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series. His other credits include "Tales of the Gold Monkey" with Stephen Collins; "Airwolf" with Jan-Michael Vincent; and "Tequila and Bonetti" with Jack Scalia. He served as executive producer for all five series, and also in that same capacity on Paramount's 1995 detective telefilm "Crowfoot." He wrote, produced and directed the 1987 feature film "Last Rites," starring Tom Berenger. NCIS airs on CBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and JAG airs on CBS Fridays at 9 p.m. ET (Check local listings). Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

_____________ Donald P. Bellisario: Hello. It's really nice to be here today and let's see if I can answer some of your questions about my shows! _______________________ Washington, D.C.: Mr. Bellisario, I have been a huge fan of all of your productions. You consistently produce quality entertainment that entertains as well as provokes thought. As your current production of JAG enters its 10th Season, what direction do you foresee in the character development of Harm and Mac? Donald P. Bellisario: It depends on how much longer JAG goes on. This could be the last season and I'm not predicting that it will be. I'll have to resolve that relationship one way or the other forever. _______________________ Silver Spring, Md.: I know the purpose of today's chat is to discuss your current series, but I have to tell you that I loved watching "Airwolf" when I was younger. Any chance of a DVD release of the series? Donald P. Bellisario: There's always a chance in today's market to see the release of successful past series but that is a Universal television decision. _______________________ Arlington, Va.: One of the things I loved about Magnum P.I.

was that beneath all the crowd pleasing shots of the Ferrari racing through beautiful scenery was a dark story about a hero with personal demons who suffered a lot. Your new shows seem much more straightforward and establishment based -- is that because you don't think today's audiences are as open to some of Magnum's ambiguity? Donald P. Bellisario: No, I think that 24 years have passed since Magnum came on the air and shows and storytelling changes. However I think you'll see that Magnum and NCIS has the same type of storytelling with an interesting ensemble cast mixed with humor. _______________________ Boston, Mass.: I've been a fan of JAG since the first seasson and I've always thought that a natural spinoff would be an Army/AirForce version of JAG. If you've considered this, too, what has prevented it? Donald P. Bellisario: I haven't considered doing it. One JAG is enough. Although now that NCIS is successful, I have thought of doing a combination JAG/NCIS on a carrier.

_______________________ Lansing, Mich.: Between the three CBS "CSIs", the syndicates showing the original "CSI" ad nauseum, plus "Crossing Jordan" and "Medical Investigations," how will you keep "NCSI" different enough to engage viewers? Donald P. Bellisario: NCIS is not CSI unless you are dyslexic. The fun of this show is the humor that goes on between the characters. The forensics is actually a small part of it and I think this distinguishes NCIS from all other similar forensic shows -- including not only the way it is written, but the way it is filmed, etc. _______________________ Harrisburg, Pa.: "Quantum Leap" was one of the greatest shows of all times. I recall when it was cancelled, someone stating that there is always a possibility that the show could return someday. I know it has been several years, but is there still some chance of reviving the show and giving it a second chance? Donald P. Bellisario: I am working with Universal's scifi channel to create a new Quantum Leap which would have Stockwell as a regular and Scott Bakula appearing at least in the first episode which would introduce a young female reaper.

_______________________ Rochester, NY: I keep reading that this is JAG's last season. If the ratings are as good as last years shouldn't they renew it? Donald P. Bellisario: Many things are involved in renewing a show including contracts with key members of the cast, the demographics of the show. JAG for example has a rather old demographic that advertising doesn't care for therefore the show may be too costly for the advertising that it generates. _______________________ Frederick, Md.: What is the possibility of a Magnum reunion/movie/guest spot on JAG or NCIS? And what do you think of the new Battlestar Galactica? Donald P. Bellisario: A Magnum feature film is in development with Imagine. _______________________ Okemos, Mich.: Mr. Bellisario, Do you and the other producers of JAG read comments submitted by fans on-line? If so, how much does that 'viewer opinion' (in relation to the Harm/Mac dynamic) sway the writers/producers in terms of what translates onto the screen during the current season? Thanks! A loyal 10-year viewer, Nancy Donald P. Bellisario: Some producers read comments submitted by fans.

None of those sway us in terms of what we create in the season -- mainly because there are so many diverse and opposing views. As a writer-producer, you must stick to your own view otherwise you'd go crazy! _______________________ Arlington, Va.: I got hooked on Magnum PI in syndication about 5 years ago and saw a great many episodes. However, I never found out who Robin is. Can you help me out? Donald P. Bellisario: Contrary to what some have said, even those in the show Magnum, Robin Masters was not Jonathan Higgins. In the first season, I used the voice of Orson Wells as the voice of Robin Masters. _______________________ Texas: I've been watching JAG since Season 1 on NBC. Thank you for all these wonderful years of being able to watch David James Elliot on my TV all this time. To me, he -is- JAG and the main focus of the show. Recently, there have been arguments between fans about the win/loss records of Harm and Mac in the courtroom, and the fact that Harm always seems to win, and that they know as soon as Harm is assigned to a case that he's going to win.

Do you and the writers 'plan' to have Harm always win the cases and therefore make Mac look less capable, or does it just happen? I don't really care. I'm a Harm fan, so his winning doesn't bother me, but I know that others out here do care about it, mostly Mac fans. And did you plan for the major fragmenting of the fans over characters? Thanks, and keep up the good work! (Nancy) Donald P. Bellisario: I wouldn't count on Harm always winning in the courtroom. Believe me that there is no conspiracy among the writers and producers in JAG for Harm to win and make Mac looks less capable. It just happens. _______________________ Seneca Falls, NY: Mr. Bellisario, I've been a fan of JAG since season 1 and I just have one question. Do you think we'll see less of the soap opera quality we've seen over the past couple of sesaons and get back to more of the roots of JAG that was present in the earlier seasons? I just would hate to see JAG turn into The Harm and Mac Love Hour.

I'd enjoy the type of stories you had this past Friday over the more soap opera quality of the whole Mac and Harm will they won't they dance thing. Donald P. Bellisario: I agree with you. I think we need to into more of the earlier season stories than to turn JAG into a Harm Mac love hour. _______________________ Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: I've enjoyed JAG, First Monday, and now NCIS. What will be the premise for your next new series? Comment: I've figured out the Harm/Mac shipper thing. There will really only be romantic scenes between Harm and Mac in September, November, February, and May. This realization helps to temper disappointment. That is why I was so thrilled you chose not to go down the UST road for NCIS. It is nice to watch an episode and know that none of the characters will become romantically involved with one another (except for McGee and Abby). Thank you. Donald P. Bellisario: I have no idea about my next new series. I just want to keep these two shows going right now. _______________________ Raleigh, N.C.: I am a great admirer and an loyal fan of all of your shows.

I hope you can bring back Clayton Webb for a few JAG more appearances. Now my question. Do you have any control over how the shows are edited when they go to syndication? A couple of minutes and some of the best lines seem to be edited out. If you have no control, do the edits bother you? Donald P. Bellisario: Unfortunately, I have no control over how shows are edited when they go to syndication. It certainly does frustrate me. _______________________ Mt. Pleasant, Iowa: Why do you never have David McCallum "Ducky" on at the end of the show when the rest of the cast are discusing the case? Abby's there most of the time even though she's in the lab, it feels wrong. Donald P. Bellisario: The end of NCIS usually has a humorous exchange between Gibbs, Tony, Sarah and McGee. Abby is rarely there nor is David because they are not the special agents that the cases revolve around. Although in future shows, you'll see some end on Abby or Ducky. _______________________ Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: Devoted JAG watcher since the jump to CBS here.

A couple of episodes have been remarkably prescient -- something shown on JAG is quickly followed by the same story happening in real life. Best example was "The Colonel" where a colonel's wife got wound up in shipping drugs via the diplomatic pouches. Before the season had finished, it happened in real life. Had you heard a rumor and made a teleplay out of it? Does this happen often? Donald P. Bellisario: Occasionally we will write an episode based on real life incidents that we have heard of but most times, and this is true in all the shows I've created going back to Magnum, I have for some strange reason written or created episodes which then actually came true. I think it wasn't just being prescient, I recall the first show I ever wrote was Ba Ba Black Sheep and I had Pappy Boyington ask me how I knew a certain incident happened that I put into the show and I told him that I didn't and he told me that it had happened. So, I've always been blessed or cursed with this ability. Which at one time had gotten me questioned by the FBI -- that had to do with the second year opening of Magnum which negotiations are going on between Vietnam and the U.S.

government in Hawaii over our MIAs. _______________________ Savannah, GA: How do you divide your time between two successful television shows? I read somewhere that you spent the majority of your time with NCIS last year trying to get it on its feet...do you plan on dividing your time more equally this year? Donald P. Bellisario: Over the years, I have been able to assemble a very talented team of writers and producers on JAG -- this always takes time. But now, they are doing the show and I have moved on to spending 95% of my time on NCIS. I wish I could stay on top of both but when you create a new show, it really has to have the mark of the creator and so hopefully NCIS where I won't have to spend much more time on it. _______________________ Somewhere east of the Sierras: You've had many successful shows that have had long runs on TV. You've also made great choices for leads in your shows, particularly with "Magnum", "Quantum Leap", both leads on "JAG", and now with Mark Harmon on "NCIS". Have these shows succeeded because of the storylines or is it the quality of the lead actors or both?

Donald P. Bellisario: It's definitely both. It's a synergistic effect that requires both the actors and the writing to create a successful show. _______________________ Marquette, Michigan: Will Harm being doing any flying this season on JAG, especially off a carrier? I would love to see him flying an F-14 again or an FA-18 like he did last season. The character seems so happy when he's flying. Donald P. Bellisario: What would a year of JAG be without Harm being in the cockpit of an aircraft? You'll see him flying again in an F-18 or his private Waco. _______________________ Dania Beach Florida: While you say you don't listen to viewer comments, you do provide us with an audience liason in Harriet M. Thank you for that. By the way, who is Kip? Donald P. Bellisario: Kip is my dog! All JAG fans know that! _______________________ Cary, NC: Do the increasing graphics on the bottom right, er bottom left, er top, or really anywhere now on the screen promoing other programs irk you as much as me? You producers ought to revolt!; Donald P.

Bellisario: They sure do but it's hard to revolt. It's like their ballpark, their ball and glove and you've got to play their game and you can't do it without the network. _______________________ Miami FL: What is it about Steven Culp that makes him so desirable to producers? At the same time last season he was on JAG, ER, and Star Trek Enterprise (with your old pal Scott Bakula). and by the way, Please bring back Gunny!;!;!;!; Donald P. Bellisario: Steven Culp is an excellent actor and a really nice guy and it's easy to see why he's working on so many different tv series. He has an extraordinary amount of talent that he brings to any character. _______________________ Los Angeles, CA: Congratulations on having two hit shows. Do you find it difficult to split your time between them? Do you have/play favorites or are they like children and you love them both for different reasons? A JAGfan - and new NCIS follower. Donald P. Bellisario: Your tv shows when you create them are like your children and you love them all.

And like children, you occassionally love one more than the other but you won't let any of them know that. _______________________ Oakton, VA: I've noticed that of the major networks, CBS (and your shows) seem to have the most diverse cast of characters, and often portray's minorities in not-necessarily-negative ways. Just wanted to say thank you for that. Donald P. Bellisario: Thank you for your comment. I have always believed that we should use the best in what we do and that goes for in front and behind the camera -- sex, race, age should have nothing to do with it. I try to portray the positive sid e of minorities not just the negative and I've always done that on my shows. For instance on Magnum, I made three of the characters Vietnam vets who were affective but not defective and at that time veterans were all defective on television. I think that some minorities were negatively treated earlier in the tv years and then the swing went the other way where you couldn't show a minority committing a crime. At one point we used to joke that the only bad guy you could show on tv was a WASP accountant.

I try to portray in my show an equal balance, good or bad, for all characters. We're all flawed to some extent and we're all heros to some extent. _______________________ Arlington, VA: Why did the Admiral leave? Donald P. Bellisario: Because John Jackson felt that seven or eight years was enough and he wanted to go back to do some theater work and to following his son who has a major league baseball career. _______________________ mt airy, md: There are so many great stories right from the newspapers-courts-martial from Iraq,etc. Are we going to see any of these in upcoming JAG episodes? Donald P. Bellisario: Oh, you sure are! I don't want to do too many Iraq stories because viewere like to be entertained and they get enough of the subject in the news. But in the beginning of the season, you'll see some Iraq stories and then throughout the season, you'll see some more court martial cases. _______________________ Los Angeles, CA: What part of the production process (creating, writing, shooting, editing, etc) do you like the best and why? Donald P. Bellisario: There is no best for me because I love the entire process.

I love to create a show, write it, produce it, direct it, do the mix on it, edit it. It's what I do best is to take my grubby little hands in everything. Unfortunately that is hard to do with 24 episodes and two shows so I always look fondly on the pilots -- creating the show and setting the tone of it, although the tone has to be constantly evolving. _______________________ Hollywood Fl: Will we ever find out who the mystery woman is that picks up Gibbs from time to time? Who is the actress that plays her? Did you include her to quell any shippers who might want to imagine Mark's and Sasha's characters together? Donald P. Bellisario: No, you will never know who the mysterious redhead is and she will continue to appear throughout the life of the series and the idea is to make everyone speculate. No, and when the series is over I might tell you why I included her (which might be ten years from now). _______________________ Pittsburgh: Mr. Bellisario, I've been a fan since Quantum Leap. Your shows are always thought provoking.

I heard a rumor that Harm was going to get a parasite, and he's going to hallucinate a life where he's in the Iraqi Republican Guard. I think this is a great idea. Also, I think it would be great if Catherine Bell dressed more like a lady!; She's darn pretty!; Donald P. Bellisario: What a great rumor! I hadn't heard it until now! _______________________ Clifton , New Jersey: Will Harm and Mac ever have any more action episodes? Example: Palmer like episodes. Donald P. Bellisario: Yes, you'll always see some action episodes with Harm and Mac with the new season in JAG -- I can't be more specific than that. _______________________ Virginia Beach, VA: You once mentioned that you hoped JAG would have a lengthy run similar to Law and Order. Is that still your hope or will season 10 be the last? Donald P. Bellisario: My hope is always that this season is never the last. I will have a better idea after we get a half year of ratings and see where the show is and what it is doing in January 2005.

If it is the last season, it will definitely effect the kinds of shows we tell and how we wrap things up. _______________________ Placentia, CA: I've been watching Navy NCIS (now called NCIS)and have been thoroughly enjoying it. I really enjoy the sense of humor and comraderie between the characters. I have 2 questions. The final epsiode of last season seemed to resolve a bit suddenly with the resolution of Kate suddenly being released from her kidnapper and Gibbs finding the "terrorist" in a fashion that was a little easy after such a long half season hunt. Rumor had it that this was planned to be a cliffhanger with part 2 being the second season opener. What happened to change the ending of this episode? Did you recieve presure to resolve it more quickly? My second question is more pedestrian, why the name change from Navy NCIS to NCIS? Donald P. Bellisario: I wrote that episode and quite frankly, I debated in my own head into making it a cliff hanging two parter. But since I'm trying to separate NCIS from JAG, I didn't want to have cliff hangers as JAG does.

The same is true for changing the name from NAVY NCIS to NCIS. The network insisted on calling it NAVY NCIS to hang onto the JAG audience but what your'e really saying Navy Naval Criminal Investigative Service and it's a bit silly. I was able to convince them to go with just the acronym this season. JAG is a great show however NCIS is a completely different show and for that reason, I want to keep them separate. I'm probably the only exec producer who begged the network not to put in NCIS advertising "from the creator of JAG." _______________________ Bonita, CA: Thank you for all the years of entertainment you've sent us through all of your different shows. Just a curiousity question, but why has the initial clip of Harm in the opening credits stayed the same for three years? It's great, but all of the others have changed. Donald P. Bellisario: The initial clip of Harm has been the same for three years because I like it. _______________________ ColoSpgs, CO: What do you look for when you casting all your actors (leads and guest stars)?

Do you have a profile in mind when you bring people in or do you see anyone/everyone and then adjust the role to fit the actor you like best? Donald P. Bellisario: You have a character that has been written in mind and we don't adjust the role to fit the actor, it's the other way around. _______________________ Boca Raton, FL: Mr. Bellisario, I'm a big fan of your work, especially Quantum Leap. I recall seeing years ago an episode of Battlestar Galactica that you were involved in. I don't remember many of the details, except that Apollo stepped into the life of a person on an alien planet (the Eastern Alliance?). It was fairly similar in concept to Quantum Leap. Was this the inspiration for that great show? Thanks, and keep up the great work. Adam Donald P. Bellisario: No, Battlestar Galactica episode had nothing to do with the concept of Quantum Leap. That came to me in my desire to create a show for network television that would have a different show every week with different characters -- something that networks don't like to do. _______________________ Auburn, Georgia: I just wanted to thank you Mr.

Bellisario for having the insight to add Catherine Bell to the cast of JAG.... As the female lead she's outstanding, and her character IMHO is such an important and vital part to JAG... Thanks again!; Donald P. Bellisario: Catherine is indeed an outstanding female lead and I agree with you that her character is very important to the success of JAG. _______________________ Longtime Fan: Did the Magnum character come from the Lance White detective that Tom Selleck played a couple of time on the Rockford Files? Donald P. Bellisario: No, the only thing related about Magnum and Lance White is that they were both played by Tom Selleck. _______________________ Laurel, MD: I know we are only 2 episodes into the season but I really miss the admiral. Any chance of a few guest appearances this year? Donald P. Bellisario: We would love to have JJ make a guest appearance but I don't think it's going to happen. _______________________ Washington, DC: Since Harriet has left JAG to have twins, will we occasionally see her or will she just be referenced on the show? Donald P. Bellisario: You definitely will see Harriet in some upcoming shows.

She's too good an actress and too important to only reference in episodes. _______________________ Donald P. Bellisario: Thank you all for the questions. I've answered to the best of my ability and what I realize has been pathetic. I hope to do it again sometime but now I have to go to work. Thank you again and God Bless. _______________________ Magnum Mania! - Episode Guide - China Doll 1 The original script for this episode was titled "Never Play with a China Doll". 2 This episode won a 1981 Edgar Award for Best Television Episode. 3 In the DVD releases for Regions 1 and 2, the music and audio is out of sync in several scenes. The first notable instance is when Magnum and Mai Ling kiss in the Chinese garden; the music comes in 12 seconds late. When Magnum leaves and realizes he's been followed, the score kicks in notably late, as does the music when Magnum is running along the beach looking for Mai Ling. The scene with the tourists talking to Rick is way off as well, with the music playing over the dialog. The "Six Million Dollar Man" sound effects in the graveyard do not match up with Magnum's movements.

4 Series co-creator, executive producer and episode writer/director Donald P. Bellisario is briefly seen during the opening credits ( at the same time his director credit is shown ) walking down N. Hotel Street in Chinatown. (Noted by Pete W.) 5 Magnum wears his Detroit Tigers baseball cap and the iconic red Hawaiian "Jungle Bird" shirt for the first time! Surf legend and L.A. fabric store owner Philip "Flippy" Hoffman created the tropical screen-print design for the shirt. 6 There are several noticeable differences between the " Pilot Movie " and this episode, the first official episode of the series: The license plate on the Ferrari is now 'ROBIN1' (instead of '56E-478') and will remain so for the rest of the series. Oddly, the '56E-478' license plate will also continue to be seen for the rest of the series, in the opening title sequence (the "ferrari glance" shot, from the "Pilot Movie"). The interior of the main house at Robin's Nest has changed significantly. In the "Pilot Movie", the indoor scenes of the main house at Robin's Nest were actually filmed at the Clarence H.

Cooke House in the Nuuanu Valley (not at the Anderson Estate), but starting with this episode soundstage sets at the Hawaii Film Studio will be used for all interior shots at Robin's Nest. Rick now runs the King Kamehameha Club with no explanation given as to what happened to his glitzy discotheque (Rick's Cafe Americain, aka "The Snow Palace") from the "Pilot Movie"! Rick's character has also changed. He is no longer a retro "Bogie"-type character. 7 The famous Magnum "look back" shot is seen at the end of this episode. There are actually two different "look backs" in the same scene. In the first one, he turns his head to the right (this is the one used in the opening title sequence for all seasons). In the second one, he turns his head to the left. 8 The desk in Higgins's office/study is the exact same desk used by Steve McGarrett in the original Hawaii Five-O. The desk will be used throughout the show's run. 9 Higgins "breaks the fourth wall" ("locking eyes" with the audience) for the first time. He will do so in only a handful of episodes.

10 Magnum is trilingual. He speaks English, French and Vietnamese. The French part will be contradicted in " Little Girl Who " (7.7), where it's clear that Magnum does not speak French. 11 List of notable filming locations: N. Hotel Street, Chinatown - "opening scene" Manoa Chinese Cemetery *, Manoa Valley - "Magnum vs. Choi" The "Chinese" garden, Walker Estate - "Han Ling's house & garden" 12 Chinese enforcer Choi ( George Cheung ) lays some serious hurt on the main characters. T.C. suffers some "busted ribs" and a broken collar bone after tangling with Choi one-on-one. At the end of the episode, Choi throws a Shuriken (a throwing star) at Magnum, which lodges in the back of his right hand! Ouch! Magnum also suffers a bruised left knee. Choi was no match for Magnum's .45, however. 13 Rick wears a "hot dog shirt" in this episode. Lloyd DeWitt will wear a different "hot dog shirt" in Season Four's " The Return of Luther Gillis " (4.16).

That's right, the show features two different "hot dog shirts" that will be worn by different characters some four years apart! 14 The couple that take a ride with Magnum and T.C. in the chopper is the same couple that is turned down for a pedicab ride by Rick (while he waits for Choi to arrive). (Noted by seahawks1) 16 Lee de Broux ( Duffy the Sailor ) will later appear as Gallagher (the tourist shop owner) in Season Three's " The Arrow That is Not Aimed " (3.14) and Rodney Radcliff (the hot rod mechanic) in Season Six's " Old Acquaintance " (6.3). 17 Magnum is seen using a Star Model B handgun in his encounter with Choi at the cemetary. In a closeup shot of the gun, however, a Star Model BM (compact version of the Star Model B) is used. Normally, Magnum uses a Colt Government Model .45 ACP handgun. (Noted by MaximRecoil ) 18 In 1962 in Cairo, Higgins was briefly attached to the British Museum there and learned a thing or two about repairing vases.

(makes funny face, looks at camera) 2 Rick: What do you think this is, Guys and Dolls ? 3 Mai Ling: The dragon tattoo is a sign of the Tong. On the palm, it signifies a Wing Chun warrior of the first degree. Some people believe such a man can kill with a look. Magnum: Only women can do that, Mai Ling. 4 T.C.: Hey, Thomas! Don't be no hero, man! Use the .45! Watch his eyes. He blinks before he strikes! Flubs 1 Early in the episode, the male relative that Mai Ling runs the Treasures of the Dove antique shop with is refered to by Magnum as (her) Uncle Ho, but later he is refered to as Cousin Ho. 2 When Magnum finds Mai Ling lying on the beach, he bends down to her with his cap on. Then there is a close up of him with his cap off, before the next shot where it is back on, and he takes it off! (Noted by Jay-Firestorm ) 3 The scar that was seen on Magnum's left shoulder in the "Pilot Movie" is nowhere to be seen in this episode.

The scar will return (and disappear again) in future episodes. 4 When Magnum leaves the King Kamehameha Club with Mai Ling in the Ferrari and turns onto the road, you can see a driver, but the passenger seat is empty. (Noted by Mark S.) 5 When T.C. and Magnum are approaching Kauai in the chopper, you can see the Makapuu Lighthouse in the background. The Makapuu Lighthouse is on Oahu (southeast side), not Kauai. (Noted by Pete W.) 6 In part of the same scene as flub #5, for a brief moment you only see one person in chopper (the pilot). The passenger seat (Magnum's seat) is suddenly empty. (Noted by Bernd-Christian Schulze) Tom Selleck on 'Magnum, P.I.' Creator Glen A. Larson: "He Gave You the Confidence to Take the Risk" | Hollywood Reporter Login to download Tom Selleck on 'Magnum, P.I.' Creator Glen A.

Larson: "He Gave You the Confidence to Take the Risk" 8:00 AM PST 11/19/2014 by Tom Selleck Rocco Ceselin Glen A. Larson The star pays tribute to the late writer-producer, also behind 'Battlestar Galactica,' who died Nov. 14 This story first appeared in the Nov. 28 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Few television writer-producers can boast a résumé like that of Glen A. Larson , who died Nov. 14 of esophageal cancer at age 77. Magnum, P.I., Quincy, M.E., Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, B.J. and the Bear and The Fall Guy — all created by Larson, who began his career as a pop singer and composed the music for many of his shows (including the Knight Rider theme song). Magnum, which Larson created with his friend and future NCIS creator Donald Bellisario , aired on CBS from 1980 to 1988 and made a star of a Hawaii-based, Ferrari-driving Tom Selleck, who remembers him here.

I met Glen when he was interested in me doing Magnum . He came to me, and I had some problems with the script. He said, "Well, come on over to Hawaii, and we'll talk about it." I went with him to Hawaii and brought my son, and it was a great trip. We had fun, and we talked every night. We were always looking for Robert Mondavi Cabernet '74 Reserve; that was a favorite of his, and we had it every night that week I spent in Hawaii. I still drink it when I can find it. See more The Long, Historic Career of Glen A. Larson Eventually — and this really says who Glen is — I still had some issues with the script, and Glen was accommodating. Don Bellisario came in to take the show in a different direction, and Glen graciously stepped back. That's something a guy could hold a grudge over, and Glen never let it affect our relationship. Glen had his name on the show and stepped back with a graciousness that I don't think anybody could find fault with. It wouldn't happen with a lot of people. Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. I will never forget that trip to Hawaii.

It was one I couldn't afford at the time, and having dinner every night with him was fun. Glen was great at not applying pressure or the hammer — it was just a time to get to know him. Glen and I remained friends, and like most people in the industry, you bump into each other. I saw him during Magnum because he had a house there. I never heard an angry or resentful word from his mouth — everything was a touch of irony and humor. Read more Glen A. Larson Mourned by Hollywood What I remember was his comfort with the process. Television and acting is often a business of gaining the confidence to risk putting yourself in front of a camera every day, and he certainly had the ability to give you that confidence without feeling like you were being placated. What he generated was a confidence in you that gave you the confidence to take the risk.

'NCIS' Creator's 'Severe Brain Condition' Becomes Issue in CBS Lawsuit | Hollywood Reporter UPDATED: In a dispute over whether "NCIS: Los Angeles" is a spinoff, Donald Bellisario's lawyers slam the network for seeking medical records to "harass and embarrass him." CBS calls the allegation "baseless." One of Hollywood's most high-stakes legal disputes has taken a turn toward the macabre. Donald Bellisario, the 77-year-old legendary creator of two of CBS' biggest hits, NCIS and JAG, is suffering from hydrocephalus, a neurological condition known as "water on the brain." According to Bellisario's doctor, in the past year, the TV legend has suffered memory loss, disorientation, unsteadiness and lack of coordination. On Jan. 14, Bellisario is scheduled to go to trial against CBS in a major lawsuit that contends he's been cheated out of revenue from NCIS: Los Angeles -- which he alleges is a spinoff of his NCIS and JAG -- because his contracts with CBS and predecessor Paramount Television entitle him to either a "first opportunity" to work on any spinoffs or receive millions in payments.

The case is a very big deal for the network. Bellisario has been compensated to the tune of $116 million already, according to court documents, and he alleges in the lawsuit that he's owed many tens of millions of dollars more in revenue he would have earned from working on the hit series. But now that Bellisario has revealed a serious brain condition, CBS wants an emergency trial continuance and is attempting to subpoena Bellisario's medical records and depose his physicians. The network, to put it simply, wishes to investigate whether the man who executive produced such classic shows as Magnum P.I. and Quantum Leap would have been medically fit to be the showrunner of a hit network drama, as he argues was his contractual right. On Aug. 17, two weeks after CBS lawyers were told about Bellisario's condition, he underwent surgery to insert an implant into his skull to draw liquid away from his brain. Bellisario's doctor advised that the surgery typically had a 75 percent success rate, but he implied that his chances actually were lower because the procedure typically is performed on young children, not men of Bellisario's age.

In legal papers, CBS now asks: "How long has Bellisario been suffering from this severe brain condition or other severe medical conditions? Are those conditions debilitating? When would they have become debilitating? Would this severe brain condition have prevented Bellisario from adequately performing his duties and responsibilities as showrunner, executive producer and writer of NCIS: Los Angeles? And when would that have occurred?" Last month, Bellisario asked the court for an expedited trial and gave the judge a declaration from his physician. ( Read the papers .) CBS didn't oppose the motion, but on Nov. 1, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory Alarcon denied it anyway. The judge ruled that he didn't have sufficient medical testimony to make the timing of the trial a top priority. Alarcon wrote, "The testimony is too vague for the Court to ascertain Bellisario's [surgical] success rate, which could theoretically range from 1% to 74%." Just a few days before the judge made his decision, CBS served subpoenas on three of Bellisario's treating physicians.

In response to requests for documents and depositions, one of Bellisario's attorneys proposed to CBS' counsel a compromise whereby the network would be given records of Bellisario's hydrocephalus diagnosis. The attorney cautioned CBS' lawyer, "A person's medical records are as personal and private as they come, and I am sure that you would not want your medical records released (as I would not want mine released) if a client sued you for breach of contract. If our proposal is not acceptable, you will need to file a motion." STORY: Showrunners 2012: 'NCIS''s Gary Glasberg and 'NCIS: Los Angeles'' Shane Brennan CBS rejected the proposed compromise and now is looking to delay the trial so it can gain more medical information. And Bellisario is seeking to torpedo the network's subpoena requests.

CBS' position is that Bellisario is "stonewalling" its attempts to obtain medical records and "trying to leverage Bellisario's medical condition in their own favor." ( Read CBS' application for an order continuing the trial date .) The network points to Bellisario's request for a quicker trial and says his refusal to detail more about his medical condition "can only be designed to prevent CBS from discovering evidence that Bellisario was, in fact, unable to perform as a showrunner, executive producer and writer for NCIS: LA during the 2008 [to] present time frame relevant to this litigation." CBS adds that it is entitled to documents and testimony "relating to any medical condition -- including, not limited to, hydrocephalus" that might have prevented Bellisario from performing his services. CBS previously had asserted that it didn't owe Bellisario any more money under the "first opportunity" provision of his contract because NCIS: Los Angeles was not a spinoff of JAG or NCIS. The network now appears to be building the additional defense that even if Bellisario contractually had the right to work on NCIS: Los Angeles, he wasn't physically capable of doing so.

"The completion of this discovery is critical to CBS' case," the network's lead attorney Scott Edelman told the judge last week. Jessica Kornberg, Bellisario's lawyer, responded in court by blasting CBS' moves as a "blatant attempt to harass, intimidate and burden" her client. Kornberg says the information being sought is protected by both constitutional privacy rights and the physician-patient privilege. ( Read Bellisario's opposition papers .) She continues: "With these subpoenas, CBS seeks not just to peek over the shoulders of Bellisario's physicians, it wants full and complete access to every document that is in any way related to Bellisario's health. Then, armed with these most personal and private documents, CBS will proceed to ask Bellisario's physicians to reveal further sensitive details -- moving from the doctor files into the examining room. And, of course, this would all be a prelude to the next phase of attack on Bellisario's privacy: CBS' demand for an independent medical examination of his body and mental capacity -- a demand CBS has already made and which is the subject of a separate discovery request." CBS and Bellisario's lawyers declined to comment on their legal strategy.

UPDATE: A CBS rep says in a statement: "Mr. Bellisario's medical condition was raised for the first time in his own lawyers' public filings, not by CBS. We have never attempted to advance our position based on Mr. Bellisario's health, and any suggestion to the contrary is both regrettable and baseless." E-mail: eriq.gardner@thr.com; Twitter: @eriqgardner Copter Flight 'Routine,' Says 'airwolf' Producer - latimes YOU ARE HERE: LAT Home → Collections Copter Flight 'Routine,' Says 'airwolf' Producer January 29, 1985 |JAY SHARBUTT | Times Staff Writer No unusual aerial maneuvers were involved in the helicopter crash that killed "Airwolf" stunt man Reid Rondell, says the show's executive producer, Don Bellisario: "It was the most routine of flights. And that's what's got everybody so absolutely stunned." The Jan. 18 accident, which occurred in gently rolling terrain about 25 miles north of Los Angeles, also injured the helicopter's pilot, Scott Maher, 36.

He was hospitalized with facial cuts, a broken right ankle, a broken left clavicle and a spine injury. "I don't know if we'll ever really know what happened--that's up to the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) to decide," Bellisario said late last week in one of his first interviews since the accident. Al Crawford, an NTSB investigator, said Monday that he plans to check the remains of helicopter's engine to see if it had malfunctioned prior to the crash. FOR THE RECORD Los Angeles Times Wednesday January 30, 1985 Home Edition Calendar Part 6 Page 7 Column 4 Entertainment Desk 3 inches; 81 words Type of Material: Correction "Airwolf" executive producer Don Bellisario was misquoted in Tuesday's Calendar as saying that he had seen film of the Jan. 18 helicopter crash in which a stunt man was killed during filming of an action sequence. Bellisario said there is no footage of the accident in which Reid Rondell, 22, was killed, adding that the camera crew was filming only the lead helicopter, not the pursuing one that crashed during a chase scene.

"I wish we'd had the film of that (the crash)" to aid in the investigation of the accident, Bellisario said Tuesday, "but there's nothing on film of the crash." He said that he briefly talked with Maher shortly after the accident, but hasn't been able to question him in detail yet because the pilot seems to be suffering a form of amnesia caused by the trauma of the crash. He said the board probably won't issue a finding of the "probable cause" of the crash until June or July. Bellisario, who created "Airwolf," also is the co-creator and executive producer of CBS' hit "Magnum, P.I." In that series, as in CBS' "Airwolf," helicopters play a prominent role, although they receive greater prominence in the latter program. A helicopter pilot himself, the 48-year-old producer didn't personally see the accident that claimed the life of Rondell, 22. But he has seen film of the crash and talked to eyewitnesses, and gives this account of what happened: The sequence being filmed used two helicopters, both Bell 205s, similar to the Huey helicopters used in the Vietnam War.

The featured chopper of "Airwolf," a heavily modified, twin-engine Bell 222, wasn't involved in the scene. One of the 205s, flown by Maher, pursued the other in a chase scene in which the two ships flew a race-track pattern over a small valley. (Peter J. McKernan Jr., vice president of Jetcopters Inc. of Van Nuys, which owned the helicopter, said Maher is an Army Reserve helicopter pilot, holds an instructor pilot rating and has logged about 3,000 hours in helicopters, with 1,700 hours in Bell 205s.) Veteran helicopter pilot David Jones, the show's second-unit director and aerial coordinator, was on a nearby hill, filming the chase. The two ships usually were flying at altitudes of 200 to 300 feet, at speeds ranging from 69 to 80 m.p.h. "They simply flew in a circle in front of the camera," Bellisario said. There were no violent maneuvers, no hammerhead stalls and the like. "It wasn't even a stunt," he said. "You couldn't call it a stunt.

That's just routine flying." The filming was done in an area "that we fly over all the time," he said. "We've been doing it for a year and a half, and Scott has flown there before. So it's not like we were flying in an unfamiliar area or where there were obstacles." At times, he said, the two helicopters might have gotten as low as 50 feet off the ground, "but that's because it's where the terrain rises up." It was where the accident occurred. During one pass, he said, Maher's helicopter inexplicably hit a small grassy knoll that rose up about 30 feet in the valley's center, then "flipped over, straight over. It didn't go anywhere. It was upside down and on fire. "Davey Jones left the camera and ran all the way down the hill. Nobody else was even close when he got there. He crawled under the cockpit--it was pouring fuel like rain inside the cockpit--and there was Scott, unconscious, hanging down by his seat belt. "Davey got under him, punched his seat belt loose, and got him down. He rolled him down the hill. By then, some other crew members had gotten there.

Davey tried to get back to the helicopter" to rescue Rondell "but it was burning too intensely." The Los Angeles County Coroner's office said that Rondell was fatally burned in the crash. Ironically, Rondell, who normally doubled for "Airwolf" star Jan-Michael Vincent, didn't have to work on the day of the crash, Bellisario said. "They weren't doubling Jan that day. But he wanted to work." For that reason, the third-generation stunt man was hired to portray a co-pilot in the helicopter flown by Maher, a Vietnam veteran who learned to fly after the war. Bellisario said that when he learned of Rondell's death, he immediately called the dead man's father, Ron, also a stunt man.

Speaking quietly, sadly, the producer said that the elder Rondell bore him no hard feelings: "He was obviously broken up by it, but he told me, 'You know, it goes with the territory.' " Four days before the accident, Universal Studios, co-producer of "Airwolf" and "Magnum," agreed to pay $610,000 to the widow of Robert Vanderkar, a camera technician killed in a 1980 helicopter crash while filming a "Magnum" episode in Hawaii.

Question: Who was creator and executive producer of Magnum PI?
Answer: Donald P. Bellisario